/ sɔːt; NAmE sɔːrt/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C ] a group or type of people or things that are similar in a particular way
SYN kind :
' What sort of music do you like?' 'Oh, all sorts .'
This sort of problem is quite common. / These sorts of problems are quite common.
He's the sort of person who only cares about money.
For dessert there's a fruit pie of some sort (= you are not sure what kind) .
Most people went on training courses of one sort or another (= of various types) last year.
( informal )
There were snacks—peanuts, olives, that sort of thing .
( informal )
There are all sorts of activities (= many different ones) for kids at the campsite.
( informal )
What sort of price did you want to pay? (= approximately how much)
( informal )
What sort of time do you call this? (= I'm very angry that you have come so late.)
➡ note at kind
2.
[ C , usually sing. ] ( informal , especially BrE ) a particular type of person :
My brother would never cheat on his wife; he's not that sort.
3.
( computing ) [ sing. ] the process of putting data in a particular order :
to do a sort
•
IDIOMS
- it takes all sorts (to make a world)
- of sorts
- out of sorts
- sort of
- a sort of sth
—more at kind noun
■ verb [ vn ]
1.
sort sth (into sth) to arrange things in groups or in a particular order according to their type, etc.; to separate things of one type from others :
sorting the mail
The computer sorts the words into alphabetical order.
Rubbish can easily be separated and sorted into plastics, glass and paper.
—see also sort out
2.
[ often passive ] ( informal , especially BrE ) to deal with a problem successfully or organize sth/sb properly :
Don't worry. We'll soon have this sorted.
It's our problem. We'll get it sorted .
It's all sorted.
It's time you got yourself sorted .
•
IDIOMS
see man noun , sheep , wheat
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- sort itself out
- sort sth out
- sort sth out (from sth)
- sort sth/sb / yourself out
- sort sb out
- sort through sth (for sth)
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French sorte , from an alteration of Latin sors , sort- lot, condition.